Swaying damping device for a handle bar of fitness equipment

ABSTRACT

The present invention combines the handle bar and swaying damping device by using a swaying structure for the handle bar of fitness equipment. The handle bar can sway independently, and the swaying modes can be properly adjusted to achieve dynamic balance for the users. The present invention offers a swaying damping device for the handle bar of fitness equipment, which is linked to a preset location, such that the handle bar can sway independently of the users. The swaying damping device can provide preset resistance to the handle bar, thus achieving resistance and springing force for the swaying structure of handle bar, and also improving flexibility, independency and convenience.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part application claiming priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/656963, filed on Sep. 8, 2003, and entitled “EXERCISE MACHINE COMPRISING TWO HAND GRIPS WHICH ARE PROVIDED WITH A DAMPING DEVICE”, presently pending.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a swaying damping device for the handle bar of fitness equipment, and more particularly to a unique device adapted to a preset location of the fitness equipment and to a handle bar permitting independent swaying thereof consistent with the users. The swaying damping device also provides a preset resistance to the swaying handle bar, thus enabling the device to sway flexibly and independently with improved convenience.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

The handle bar of fitness equipment is generally divided into two types: a fixed handle bar (e.g. a frame handle bar of a treadmill); and a swaying handle bar (e.g. a coupled handle bar of an oval track stepper).

Since the balance of exercise is closely related to manual swaying, the handle bar has disadvantages in the actual operation. First, the fixed handle bar of a treadmill can only offer preventive protection for the users in a static state, but without any help in a dynamic state.

Also, the coupled swaying handle bar of oval track stepper can provide dynamic support to the users for a desirable balance. However, the physical balance is often adjusted to maintain a dynamic balance. As the swaying handle bar is coupled to a stepper, the swaying magnitude, starting/end point and swaying time cannot be adjusted at any time, making it difficult to maintain a dynamic balance. Moreover, the users are very restricted on the fitness equipment because of poor ergonomics.

Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve efficacy.

To this end, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The handle bar 11 can sway independently of the users and provide a dynamic balance for the users.

The swaying handle bar 11 can provide a preset resistance to the swaying damping device 20, thus ensuring a damping effect and springing force.

The swaying magnitude, starting and end point, and swaying time of handle bar 11 can be adjusted at any time, making it possible to freely adjust the swaying magnitude and mode and to maintain a dynamic balance for the users.

The handle bar 11, independent of the fitness equipment 10, operates in line with the users, thus improving flexibility, independency and convenience.

The handle bar can be placed individually or oppositely onto the fitness equipment 10 depending upon the operating requirements.

The pneumatic damping rod 24 with two-way damping action is a swaying damping device 20, which can be mounted onto seat frame 12 and handle bar 11 of fitness equipment 10. The damping rod 24 provides resistance and springing force to the handle bar 11, and also reduces the number of pneumatic damping rod 24 required.

The swaying damping device 20 is formed by twisting components of two-way damping action, such as a torsional spring or torsional rubber 25, and two-way volute spring, which are mounted onto pivot shaft of fitness equipment 10 and handle bar 11. The damping device 20 provides resistance and springing force to handle bar 11.

The inner and outer ring surfaces 27, 26 within torsional rubber 25 rotate inversely to each other to provide preset resistance and springing force to the handle bar 11, reducing the number of twisting components of two-way damping action.

The preset resistance and springing force of swaying handle bar 11 can be easily changed or adjusted depending upon the number of swaying damping devices 20.

The handle bar 11 swaying independently can be mounted individually or oppositely onto preset location of fitness equipment 10, e.g. oval track stepper or treadmill, depending upon the operating requirements.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an isolated exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an isolated sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an isolated assembled side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an isolated side view of the operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 depict preferred embodiments of swaying damping device for a handle bar of fitness equipment.

The present invention comprises fitness equipment 10, being fitted with a swaying handle bar 11.

A handle bar 11 is adapted onto the fitness equipment 10 to provide a support to the users in a swaying state.

A swaying damping device 20 is mounted onto the fitness equipment 10 and connected to preset location of handle bar 11.

The handle bar 11 on fitness equipment 10 is operated together with the swaying damping device 20, such that the handle bar 11 can sway independently of the users. The swaying damping device 20 can also provide a preset resistance to the swaying handle bar 11, thus enabling it to sway flexibly and independently with improved convenience. The handle bar can be placed individually or oppositely onto the fitness equipment 10 in line with swaying damping device 20, depending upon the operating requirements.

The swaying damping device 20 may be formed by a twisting component of two-way damping action, which is coupled onto handle bar 11 of fitness equipment 10, such that the damping device 20 can provide preset resistance and springing force to handle bar 11. The twisting component of swaying damping device 20 may be a torsional spring or torsional rubber 25, and a two-way volute spring. The twisting component of two-way damping action, as a torsional rubber 25, is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The outer ring surface 26 is adapted onto fixed seat 32 of spacing disc 31, and the inner ring surface 27 is coupled with the pivot shaft of handle bar 11. The spacing disc 31 is fixed onto fitness equipment 10 with the help of cover 33. Referring to FIGS. 4, and 5, the inner and outer ring surfaces 27, 26 within torsional rubber 25 may rotate inversely to provide preset resistance and springing force to handle bar 11.

As such, the swaying damping device 20 of the present invention is linked to a preset location of fitness equipment 10 and handle bar 11, such that the handle bar 11 can sway independently of the users. The swaying damping device 20 can also provide a preset resistance to the swaying handle bar 11, thus enabling the user to adjust the swaying magnitude and modes for a dynamic balance. In cooperation with swaying damping device 20, groups of tensile rubber 21, tensile spring 22 and tensile components of pneumatic damping rod 23 are mounted into seat frame 12 and handle bar 11 of fitness equipment 10. Alternatively, twisting components of two-way damping action, a torsional spring or torsional rubber 25, and two-way volute spring, are mounted onto a pivot shaft of fitness equipment 10 and handle bar 11, thus providing resistance and springing force to handle bar 11. Meanwhile, the handle bar 11 can sway independently of fitness equipment 10 for the benefit of the users, thus improving flexibility, independency and convenience. 

We claim:
 1. A swaying damping device for a handle bar of fitness equipment, said swaying damping device comprising: a fitness equipment, fitted with a swaying handle bar; a handle bar, adapted onto said fitness equipment to provide a support to users in a swaying state; and a swaying damping means mounted onto said fitness equipment and connected to a preset location of said handle bar, wherein said handle bar operates with said swaying damping means, said handle bar swaying independently of said users, said swaying damping means providing a preset resistance to the swaying handle bar, enabling flexible and independent swaying.
 2. The swaying damping device defined in claim 1, wherein said handle bar is placed individually or oppositely onto said fitness equipment in line with said swaying damping means, depending upon operating requirements.
 3. The swaying damping device defined in claim 1, wherein said swaying damping means is comprised of a twisting component of two-way damping action, said twisting component being coupled onto said handle bar of said fitness equipment, said swaying damping means providing preset resistance and springing force to said handle bar.
 4. The swaying damping device defined in claim 3, wherein said twisting component of said swaying damping means is comprised of a torsional spring or torsional rubber, and a two-way volute spring.
 5. The swaying damping device defined in claim 3, wherein said twisting component is a torsional rubber, said twisting component having an outer ring surface adapted onto a fixed seat of a spacing disc, and an inner ring surface coupled with a pivot shaft of said handle bar, said spacing disc being fixed onto said fitness equipment by a cover, the inner and outer ring surfaces rotating inversely to provide preset resistance and springing force to said handle bar. 